Current (https://current.org/tag/americas-public-television-stations/)
The FCC has signaled its intent to make broadcasters consistently identify when programs have received financial support from a foreign government.
The commission is giving noncommercial TV stations a break on several rules and fees, a move that public broadcasters hope will lead to increased datacasting opportunities.
Advocates are challenging a requirement that stations pay the FCC 5% of revenue from “ancillary or supplementary services,” which they say could hamper adoption of ATSC 3.0.
Co-authored by America’s Public Television Stations, the proposal would expand the use of booster transmitters to fill coverage gaps.
The legislation would provide funds to stations for workforce development through the Department of Education.
CPB has asked the Department of Homeland Security to set aside funds for public broadcasting emergency communications.
“To leave public television stations … on the sidelines of the FirstNet infrastructure is to ignore a robust, reliable and ubiquitous partner whose public safety capabilities have proven effective in a variety of critical use cases,” APTS told the FCC.
The FCC plans to auction off Educational Broadband Service spectrum and give commercial buyers an equal shot at snapping it up.
The bill would boost Ready To Learn funding by more than $2 million.